Although only the sole entrance that was visibly closed by a wall of light, in actuality the whole room was inside a barrier. Scarlett and the others found their powers and body movement sealed, the blood knights also disappeared.

“Fuckfuckfuckfuckshit!” Soris rapidly mumbled and struggling to break free from his restraint.

The cultists were chained but the church’s personnel was unaffected.

“It’s over…” Ativan released a sigh of satisfaction. But he frowned when looking at the level 1 who was killed in action.

“Hoti, I’m very sorry. I should have used this from the start… this is all my responsibility.” Ativan consoled the sibling of the departed.

“Head priest, we all know the risk. Just… don’t make him die for nothing.” Hoti spoke with a heavy heart.

“Of course. Arec, how’s your eye?”

“It’s fine, head priest. A few weeks and it would be as good as new.”

“I’m glad to hear it, we have more than enough damage tonight.”

Ativan approached the bound Scarlett. “One of the executives of the Dumuzin’s cult… and her sister, hm? We’ve never captured someone of your rank before. Finally, we could root out the strongest cult in this town.”

“This barrier can even seal a level 2 like me, must be an extremely valuable thing and have limitations. Otherwise, you would have used it from the start.” Scarlett didn’t panic and calmly analyzed the situation.

“Correct, I don’t want to use this if possible but it’ll be worth it if we captured you. We’ll obtain intel about your cult in this town, where your base is, your resources and manpower, everything. For decades, Dumuzin’s cult has grown deep roots and well hidden in this town. We now can finally end this long conflict.”

“Supposed it all comes true, what would happen to the rest of my men? You’ll kill them all?” Scarlett asked straight to his face. She didn’t panic and remained calm even in this situation.

“…We’re all responsible for our actions. We’ll be judged by our actions. Such is the way of the world. The cultists will face the Goddess’ justice.”

“Oh, you mean massacre. I almost didn’t recognize that because of the beautification.” Azure interceded with her stress-free voice.

“You reap what you sow, young lady. It is unfortunate, for one as young as you to be caught by the snare of evil. If you’re not doing this by choice, there’s another way. Repent your sins and start to make amends. If you’re sincere then perhaps one day, you may found absolution.”

Ativan spoke calmly, serene like an authority figure. He had ample experience of speaking to other people as a priest.

“Oooh, you want me to convert? Okay then, so my sins are absolved now? Yaaay, praise the Goddess and her infinite mercy.”

“Blasphemy! You’ll not mock the Goddess that way you little brat!” Angelo in his anger raised his hand to deliver a slap to Azure.

“Angelo, stop!” Ativan grasped Angelo’s arm before he hit her. “We do not torture prisoners.”

“Head priest Ativan, you’re a kind man… but people like their kind spit on your kindness. It’s not worth it giving them mercy! We should scour them from the face of the earth!” Angelo snarled at the older man.

“…You want revenge, for Leon.”

“Yes! Damn right I do! He deserved better, head priest! He deserved to LIVE!”

“Old friend, calm yourself. Don’t let your rage blinded you. We all know the feeling of loss, I may not know Leon as close as you but it would be a colossal mistake if you think I wasn’t saddened by his passing! Look at Hoti, you think he didn’t want to cut his brother’s killer to pieces?”

Ativan gripped Angelo’s arm a little tighter. The slight pain dimmed the boiling rage of Angelo’s heart.

“Forgive me… head priest, I was out of bounds… To you as well, Hoti. I’m sorry.”

“There’s nothing to forgive, Angelo. We’ll give Leon the justice he owed but we’ll not kill the killer in cold blood. It would make us no better than them, and we must be better.”

Ativan released his grasped and Hoti nodded at Angelo.

Angelo took a deep breath and exhaled them, he renewed his approach.

“Girl, where’s the white mask?” He looked at Azure’s eyes behind her mask.

“Haah? Are you stupid? Didn’t you see he escaped? How am I supposed to know where he is?”

“…Who is he?”

“His name is Jor and he will kill you,” Azure spoke in an unconcerned fashion.

“…Why?”

“Because you’re after him. According to what I know, he wouldn’t like a man chasing his ass.”

“Oh, why the hell we’re still covering for him? The coward ran like a mouse and left us here to fend for ourselves!” Soris cut into the conversation.

“Soris, you–”

“Don’t stop me Azure, I won’t let him get away scot-free after our death!”

“They won’t kill us, you idiot!”

“It doesn’t matter! We’re screwed and he’s out there doing Devil knows what. I bet he’s on his way to the safety of our HQ. I won’t let him only get away from this!”

Evil turns on evil… it’s in their nature. Ativan thought silently.

“You, fire guy! You want him, you got him. Jor’s identity is—”

***

Soris’ father was a member of the Cult of Dumuzin. He was posted in Luxore town and was a trusted subordinate of the branch leader there. He had a family and had a kid, Keith.

His mother died before he could remember her. His father loved and doted Keith quite a lot. Little Keith was given the best of whatever his father had and never found wanting. As a result, Keith grew up quite spoiled.

At the age of ten, Keith’s affinity was tested and it was a tier 4 wind element. His father leaped with joy for he was only a tier 3 himself, he knew the advantages of higher affinity all too well. He was a trusted subordinate of the boss not because of his strength but because of his loyalty and long years of service. In his son, he saw the hope of rising up in life.

Keith’s father now educated his son in a strict manner. Although the kid wasn’t allowed to start training Mana because of his young age, Keith’s father made sure little Keith had a solid foundation before embarking on the Path of Power.

Keith trusted his father, he accepted his father’s dream and made it his own. He would rise his status higher and make his family powerful. Unfortunately, when he was at the age of thirteen, his father was killed in one of the cult’s missions. However, he didn’t lose hope and his ambition kept burning in his heart.

After reaching the age of fifteen, he finally stepped into the Path of Power. He was a talented and hardworking boy so he excelled compared to the other newbie cultists; he was the best and this pleases him. He officially became a cult member and given the tag, Soris.

He encountered something unexpected during his first mission. It was an unusual mission because it involved a large scale mobilization of the cult’s forces. He was given a somewhat difficult assignment but he didn’t complain, he would excel at it as always.

Not.

Someone unknown had bigger contributions than him. Someone from outside the cult, a heretic outsider. Soris felt a serious impact on his confidence that he’d built for years. He watched closely at the butler Gavin, who then gave Jor his reward in the lounge. Turned out Jor was just an unremarkable fat boy, far different from his imagination. He thought whoever could best himself must be someone with great aura and presence like vice-leader August.

Seeing his imaginary fear didn’t come true, he relaxed and treated it as Jor’s beginner’s luck. Jor got lucky and got an easier task and opponent, bad things happened sometimes, end of story. He cast his annoyance aside and planned to enjoy the rest of the evening, the beautiful girls were coming.

While he was dancing, Lady Farley approached Jor. They talked for a while then they danced together! Soris had a crush on Farley for years, she was his first love. Out of the blue, a piggy came along and danced together with her. The shock hit him like a lightning bolt.

He held a ridiculous sack of potato as he danced with the most beautiful girl in Soris’ eye. The nerve! Such disrespect! He stepped on her foot a few times and she seemed didn’t mind! She brushed it off with cute giggles and continued to dance intimately as if she was carving their moment in her heart.

But the most shocking thing wasn’t that. It was the way Farley looked at Jor. There’s something inside her eyes that she never had when she looked at the newcomer. Keith and Farley had known each other for years but he never got that look from her. Not even once. The fire of jealousy had been burning brightly in Soris’ heart ever since.

His father was a devout follower of the Greater Devil and Keith only knew the world through the cult’s eyeglasses. He developed a belief that he was a superior human and all the other humans not following Dumuzin’s faith were all ignorant heretics. His faith alone was in the right while every other faith was wrong. He was taught that way since he was little.

The world and all living beings exist for Dumuzin entertainment, he also views them as such. Dumuzin was surely a great being and while the whole world was his, surely as a devout follower, he possessed a little ‘right’ to whatever that wasn’t great enough to caught Dumuzin’s eyes.

To put it in simple terms, Dumuzin ate the feast but he could enjoy the dishes that Dumuzin didn’t eat.

Then a pig came along and eat what was meant to be his… Unacceptable!

Soris got a chance to put him in his place in the tournament but he ran.

Soris provoked him afterward to have a measure of him but he ran.

Now, he successfully ran while he was caught in the jaws of defeat. He was... UNWILLING.

***

“Jor’s identity is—”

“Your SAVIOR is here!”

The light of the barrier disappeared with a loud sound and a person stood at the entrance in a grandiose manner. His legs at shoulder’s width, chin smugly raised up. He opened his arms wide as if he was embracing the whole world and spoke loudly as if he was afraid he was not being heard. He really emphasized the word ‘savior’ for additional effect. He regretted he didn’t have a horned helmet, flowing green cape, and a fog machine. The entrance scene wasn’t perfect but it will have to do.

Silence as the grave was a fitting phrase to describe the following situation.

“What? What did I miss?”